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Agence France-Presse

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fathered two children with one of his lawyers while holed up in Ecuador’s embassy in London for much of the past decade, a report on Sunday said.
The 48-year-old Australian is allegedly the dad of two boys – aged two and one – born to South African-born lawyer Stella Morris, The Mail on Sunday reported.
The newspaper published the report alongside photographs of Assange with the toddlers and an interview with Morris who said they “fell in love” and were planning to marry.
The couple have been engaged since 2017, according to the paper, which said it learned about the revelations in court papers seen last week.
Assange is being held in London’s high security Belmarsh prison as he fights an extradition request by the United States to stand trial there on espionage charges.

The Mail on Sunday said Morris chose to reveal their relationship and the existence of their sons because “she fears Assange’s life is at serious risk if he remains in Belmarsh”, due to the spread of coronavirus.
Morris wants the one-time hacker released under British government plans to allow some prisoners temporary release, amid fears Covid-19 could sweep through jails.
But Assange last month failed in a bail bid based on his risk of catching the virus, with a British judge saying there were “no grounds” for his release.
100 doctors alarmed over UK prison ‘torture’ of ailing Julian Assange
Assange’s lawyers could not immediately be reached for comment.
WikiLeaks responded to the report on Twitter.
“Julian Assange’s newly revealed partner, mother of their 2 young children, urges UK government to bail him and other vulnerable prisoners as #coronavirus sweeps prisons,” it said.

WATCH: Julian Assange's newly revealed partner, and mother of their 2 young children, speaks for the first time: Urges UK government to bail her vulnerable fiance amid #coronavirus fears#FreePress#DontExtraditeAssange #COVID19 https://t.co/Uy6Kbsj55K
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) April 11, 2020

The whistle-blowing organisation posted its own video interview with Morris soon after, in which she detailed her purported five-year relationship with Assange.
Assange faces charges under the US Espionage Act for the 2010 release of a trove of secret files detailing aspects of US military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He ensconced himself in the Ecuadorean embassy in 2012 after skipping bail to avoid separate legal proceedings in Sweden, but was finally dragged out last year.
He reportedly conceived the first child with Morris in 2016, according to The Mail on Sunday.
The couple had begun a relationship the previous year while the lawyer visited him to work on his legal situation, it said.

Assange watched the birth of both children in London hospitals via live video-link and met the elder boy, named Gabriel, after he was smuggled into the embassy, the paper added.
Both boys are said to be British citizens and have reportedly visited their father in prison.
Trump offered to pardon Assange if he denied Russia leak, court hears
Morris told The Mail on Sunday: “I love Julian deeply and I am looking forward to marrying him.
“Julian has been fiercely protective of me and has done his best to shield me from the nightmares of his life.”
She said she had lived “quietly and privately”, raising Gabriel and his brother Max, while “longing for the day we could be together as a family”.
Morris added: “Now I have to speak out because I can see that his life is on the brink.”


Julian Assange says he pleaded ‘guilty to journalism’ to be freed from UK prison

Why Julian Assange suffered for so many years in the free world

Who are Julian Assange’s children – Daniel, Gabriel and Max? The WikiLeaks founder has finally reunited with his wife Stella Assange and kids in Australia as a free man, after a 14-year legal battle

As Assange walks free, multifaceted threats to journalism and the truth are bigger than ever

WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fathered two children with lawyer Stella Morris in Ecuador’s UK embassy

Julian Assange is reportedly the father of two boys – aged two and one – born to South African-born lawyer Stella Morris. Photo: WikiLeaks

Belmarsh prison is seen behind its walls in south east London on April 12, 2019. - Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is being held in London's high-security Belmarsh prison which has housed some of Britain's most notorious inmates, a legal source told AFP Friday. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)

A pedestrian walks past the Embassy of Ecuador in London on April 11, 2019, after police arrested WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. - British police have arrested WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange at Ecuador's embassy in London after his asylum was withdrawn, the police said in a statement Thursday. Assange has been living at the embassy since 2012 when he sought refuge there. (Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP)

Donald Trump offered to pardon WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange if he denied Russia leak, court hears

US President Donald Trump. Photo: AFP

FILE PHOTO: WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange leaves Westminster Magistrates Court in London, Britain January 13, 2020. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/File Photo

A protester holds a banner in support of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange outside Westminster Magistrates Court in London on February 19, 2020, during Assange's remand hearing via video-link as he fights extradition to the United States. - The main hearing in extradition proceedings against Wikileaks founder Julian Assange begins at the end of February. The United States has been demanding extradition of the 48-year-old Australian for years because of the publication of secret documents and violations of the anti-espionage law. (Photo by Tolga AKMEN / AFP)

100 doctors alarmed over UK prison ‘torture’ of ailing Julian Assange

Julian Assange is due to face an extradition hearing next week. Photo: DPA

Protesters hold signs demanding freedom for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange in front of the Opera Garnier during a protest before the opening debate on the French government's pensions reform bill at the National Assembly in Paris, France, February 17, 2020. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

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Lawyer Stella Morris said she and Assange have been in a relationship since 2015 and have two children
Assange has been held in Belmarsh prison in London since he left the Ecuadorean embassy a year ago



Lawyer Stella Morris chose to reveal their relationship and the existence of their sons because she fears Julian Assange’s life is at serious risk if he remains in prison, due to the spread of coronavirus.


Coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus pandemic: All stories

Britain

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange fathered two children with lawyer Stella Morris in Ecuador’s UK embassy

Lawyer Stella Morris said she and Assange have been in a relationship since 2015 and have two children Assange has been held in Belmarsh prison in London since he left the Ecuadorean embassy a year ago

Lawyer Stella Morris said she and Assange have been in a relationship since 2015 and have two children

Assange has been held in Belmarsh prison in London since he left the Ecuadorean embassy a year ago